The Code on Dressing In a Business Environment

They say clothes make the man, and rightly so—for what one wears is a non-negotiable part of the first impression made on anyone he or she meets. Therefore the above statement could be best rephrased as, ‘clothes make the person’, a singular statement through choice of presentation that reveals both character and personality. Among the realities an individual has to contend with, one of the most exacting and demanding is the world of business; for one to achieve a modicum of respect essential in this environment, one must adhere to the set of official and unofficial dress codes that can define failure and success.

II. A Man’s Guide To Dressing For Business The key to any wardrobe choice with the objective of engaging in business is professionalism and seriousness. While some creative fields allow college-standard clothing to be worn in the workplace, most organizations require clothes that convey an image that matches the company—and this means clean and well-made pieces, properly cut and pressed, and devoid of pictures or statements that may be offensive to other employees (Heathfield par. 4).

Companies that require business standard will approve of men in the traditional business attire of shit, tie, and suit (DressCodeGuide. com par. 1), or the alternative business casual which may be a combination of slacks or pants in cotton or wool, and a classic collared shirt (Heathfield par. 8). Torn jeans and athletic gear are not acceptable in a business environment, as well as an unkempt appearance; proper hygiene must be observed in conjunction with the correct choice of clothing. However, sweaters, turtlenecks, and golf shirts are allowed, provided they do not brand any offensive messages (Heathfield par.
10). While the best footwear choices would be leather shoes, kept clean and without obvious scuff marks, conservative walking shoes and loafers are also accepted (Heathfield par. 11). Some of the more popular brands of business clothing are Brooks Brothers and Men’s Wearhouse (Zephyr par. 10). III. A Woman’s Guide To Dressing For Business Compared to men, women have a wider range of clothing options to choose from, and thus are more likely to make more mistakes. As a rule, business standard for women requires a conservative knee-length skirt suit and inner blouse (DressCodeGuide.
com par. 1) and classic skirts and uncomplicated blouses for business casual (Heathfield par. 10). Pants are acceptable as long as they are cut well and fit right, which make tight jeans, leggings, shorts, overalls, and athletic gear unacceptable (Heath field par. 8) as with miniskirts, sundresses, tube tops, halter tops, backless tops, and spaghetti-strap tops (Heathfield par. 9). Stockings are necessary but can be done without during the summer. Footwear acceptable for business is generally in the closed-toe and closed-heel pumps or heels category, as well as classy-looking flats.
Flip-flops and thongs are not good choices for the workplace (Heathfield par. 11). Some good and affordable brands for women’s business clothing are Banana Republic and Eddie Bauer (Zephyr par. 12). Makeup should be conservative yet tasteful, and should definitely not be a kaleidoscope of colors. The same goes with perfume and jewelry—less is more. A dab or two of scent will do, as well as one or two classic jewelry pieces such as a nice watch, pearl earrings or gold studs, and a ring. IV. Things To Remember
Dressing for business, unlike everyday dressing, comes with a specific objective that impacts greatly on one’s chances of getting a job or being promoted. But on top of looking businesslike and following the professional dress code, what is most important is self-confidence and passion. No combination of clothing can achieve both, and a prospective employer or superior will note this instantly. The goal is to make something one oneself, and have definite plans on how to achieve it. Works Cited DressCodeGuide. com.
“Business Dress”. 2007. 24 April 2009 <http://www. dresscodeguide. com/BusinessGuide. asp>. Heathfield, Susan. “Dress for Work Success: A Business Casual Dress Code”. About. com. 2009. The New York Times Company. 24 April 2009 <http://humanresources. about. com/od/workrelationships/a/dress_code. htm>. Zephyr. “How To Dress Professionally – Business Dress Code Basics”. College Fashion. Net. 2009. 24 April 2009 <http://www. collegefashion. net/fashion-tips/how-to-dress-professionally-business-dress-code-basics/>.